keltum



w. c. KELLUM. Chronometer Escapement. No. 81,910. Patented Sept. 8, 1868.

WILLIAM O. KELLUM, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

- Letters Patent No. 81,910, dated September 8, 1868.

IMPROVIIMENT IN ESGAPEMENTS.

til 5:11am nfemh in in tips: some @Hltttl mm muting mm at it: time.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. KELLUM, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Upright Chronometer; and I dohereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are snfiicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertaius to make and use my said invention or improvements without further invention or experiment.

The object of my invention is to construgt an upright chronometer, in which the balance receives one impulse at each complete 'or double vibration, and the detest-lever is operated by a liberating pin, attached to the balance-stall, and moving alternately above and below a lifting-spring, which operates the detent.

The balance-staff moves in a plane parallel with the'plates of the time-piece, and also parallel with the plane of the escape-wheel, which is locked either'by spring or gravitation.

To more fully explain my invention, reference is had to the drawings accompanying this specification, of

' which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the escapement, one plate being removed.

Figure 2 is a top view, with the balance removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A are the plates of the time-piece, and serve to support its mechanism. The escape-wheel B turns in a vertical plane, as shown. C is the balance-staff, standing vertically, and in a plane parallel with that of the escape-wheel, and also with those of the plates A A. The stafi carries the balance, 1), and has projecting from one side, near its lower extremity, a liberating-pin, a. At the bottom of the staff is fastened the disk E, notched, as shown, so as to .form the impulse-pallet c.

The detent-lever F is pivoted or moves on the axis G, and has on its opposite end the adjustable screw d, which retains the escape-wheel after each impulse given to the balance, the detent being kept at the proper adjustment by the supporting-pin or screw e. A curved arm, H, extends from the lever F up to a point near the liberating-pin a, on the stafi'.

A thin flexible strip or spring of steel, I, also extends upwards from the detent, being attached to it at a point, I, back of the attachment of the arm H, and extending forward, so as to pass under this arm, as shown, and terminate in a projecting lip, J.

When the balance is started, and begins a vibration, the liberating-pin a passes under the lip J, which stands at an angle, and raises it with the end of the arm H. This lifts the detent F, with the screw 11, and liberates the escape-wheel. At the same instant, a tooth of the escape-wheel comes in contact with the impulsepallet 0, thus giving the balance its impulse. The pin a has then passed the lower edge of the lip J, so as to free it, and allow it, with the arm H and detent' F, to fall, and arrest the motion of the escape-wheel at the next tooth.

As the balance returns by means of the hair spring 6, in completing its vibration, the pin a passes above the lip J, which, from the elasticity of the spring, is easily depressed, so as to allow the pin to pass, after which it regains its first position in contact with the arm H, and is ready for another impulse.

A light spring, K, extends above the detent, and may serve to lock the escape, or, when upright, it may look by gravitation.

In this construction, a very simple and cheap escapement is made, which may be applied to ordinary clocks, but which at the same time is so accurate that a time-piece constructed with it will rate with the best chronometers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The detentdi, and'the adjusting-screw d, together with the curved arm H and the spring I, operated by the liberating-pin a, or its equivalents, locking by spring or gravitation, substantially as and for the purpose described.- I

2. The escape-wheel B, moving in a plane parallel to that of the balance-stall and of the plates A A, and

giving impulse to the pallet 0, either from the sides or point of the teeth, in combination with the detent F, arm H, and spring I, substantially as described.

3. The balance-staff C, standing parallelwith the plate A, and the liberating-pin a, passing alternately above and below the lip J at each vibration, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

WM. 0. KELLUM. [11. s.]

Witnesses:

G. W. M. SMITH, JPL. Booms. 

